Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-09-22
THE RAILROAD CONTROVERSY.
Debate of the Hazen and Atherton Bills
Resumed in the New Hampshire
House.
CoNCoRD, n. H. Sent. 81.


The debate on the railroad question was
resumed in the House at 8 25 this morning
Mr.. Stone of Andover was the first speaker
He said there were but two questions involved
10 the col oLtrOyersy-frst, whether it would
be safe TO entrust to either the Maine or the
Concord, the control of the upper railroads
and second, whether it would be dealing
justly by posterity. The best interest of the
State demanded the passage of general
railroad law. Both railroads are here in
their own selfish interest for the loaves and
fishes. The people have an interest here
and he believed their true interest demanded
the passage of the Hszen bill. 1t did not
matter how they were run. The principal
argument urged against the Hazen bill was
''foreign corporation
In 1888, when the 'Colby bill" was passed.
railroad commissioners were created with
power to regulate fares and freights on all
roads operated in this State. The Hazen bill
does not repeal this provision. The State
will not, by passing that bill surrender con-
troll of her railroads, nor power to regulate
fares and freights. Under the Hazen bill he
believed the State would have greater con-
troll OF her railroads than under the Atherton
bill. Under either of them their power
would net be lost. Four-ffths of the people
in his town and in all the towns along the
settlement of the northern railroad favor the
Hszen bill. No demand has been made for
the repeal of the Colby" bill and four years
experience satisfies the people of the State
with its operation. Ifthe Atherton bill be-
comes a law and the Concord and Montreal
are united into one line, the Northern would
be side-tracked and at its mercy. That
would result to the great disadvantage of his
section.
Mr. Bell of Exeter favored the Hazen bill.
He belle we'd 10 investing the State with con-
troll of all railroads, turnpikes and highways.
He entertained fears of the political power
of the consolidation of great moneyed 'corpo-
rations. Public opinion is the only power
that will restrain this great influence The
government of Canada for political reasons
had subsidized and created the great trans
continental line. That line, the Canadian
Pacific, must have an Atlantic terminus and
he knew of no other place for it
than Boston 1t is matter OF absolute ne
cessity that that road secure control of the
lines in the Merrimack valley. To prevent
this he knew of but one way; that was State
cor troll Both the Hszen and the Atherton
bills contain provisions against foreign cor
porations controlling the railroads of the
State, but he remembered that for twenty
wears the Concord operated the Manchester
& Lawrence in opposition to the law, In the
same manner that the Concord managed the
Lawrence, he feared and believed the Cana
dian Pacific would operate the lines through
the Merrimack system. After reviewing the
history of the legislation of 1888 which he
then, as a member of the House, opposed, he
said the Colby bill applied to the Boston
Lowell despite the ,titements to the contra
ry. After the adjournment or that legislature
the Concord was unable and unwilling to
lease the Northern & Montreal, and what was
more natural than that they should lease to
the Lowell? The inevitable logic of events
forced the Boston & Maine to lease the Low
ell to secure terminals for its largely increas-
ing business, resulting from its union with
the Eastern.
He commented on the Hszen bill by sec
ton, saying that its provisions in general
were to carry out the irtenton of the Colby
bill, aud should be passed. 1t seemed to him
that the whole thing at the bottom of the
Atherton bill was that men who bought Mon
treal stock at S25 and $50 a share
should make large sum on their invest
ment That the bill opens unlimited op
portunity for stock watering and places
tremendous load on the people of the State,
especially on those living in the Merrimsc
valley.
1t bristles all over with bribery, because it
promises the construction of roads in differ
erent sections of the State to catch votes
when men parade bonds in this house for
building railroads, and urge that as a reason
for supporting the Atherton bill. AS he
viewed it, that came perilous near his con-
ception of bribery. In making that state
ment he disclaimed all intention to personal
ly impugn motives to any gentlemen.